Traffic circle amber light



Sept 15, 1970 A. F. soUTHl-:RLAND 3,529,287

' TRAFFIC CIRCLE AMBER LICHT Filed OG'C. 27, 1967 INVENTOR. WM5/@7' F500779594 f4/1/0 United States Patent O 3,529,287 TRAFFIC CIRCLE AMBERLIGHT Albert Frank Southerland, 2096 U.S. 19 S. Lot 345, Clearwater,Fla. 33516 Filed oct. 27, 1967, ser. No. 678,639 Int. Cl. G08g 1/096U.S. Cl. 340-43 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates generally to traflic si-gnals.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtraflic circle amber light which will visually indicate to a motorist ora pedestrian the amount of time remaining before the green light isswitched off to a red light, so that he may determine whether he should`attempt or not attempt to cross the intersection within the timeremaining of a green light signal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trac circleamber light which comprises an individual unit which is readilysecurable to a conventional traffic signal such as is presently used atintersections of streets and highways.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a traiccircle amber light which is readily fitted over the green light signallens `and which is accordingly operated 'by the -green li ht.

Still another olrjgect of the present invention is to provide a trafficcircle amber light which includes a plurality of lamps therewithin whichare in sequence turned on, and which when are all turned on, indici-atethe instances of the tratiic light change.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a traiiic circleamber light which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture,rugged in construction, easy to use and eilicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the present invention shown in relativeposition for being mounted upon a trafc sign-al of conventional design;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view thereof shown in mounted position upona traiiic signal;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 shownenlarged;

FIG. 4 is an electrical diagram showing the operation of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of one type of lamp to be used withinthe present invention.

lReferring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeralrepresents a traic circle amber light, according to the presentinvention, wherein there is a generally circular shaped assembly 11having a central opening of circular configuration 12.

The assembly 11 comprises a life saver or doughnut congurated housing 13which will readily snap over a shield 14 of a traic signal 15, as shownin FIG. l of the drawing.

The housing 13 encloses ya circular chamber 16 therewithin, the chambercontaining a plurality of lamps 17 all around. The lamps 17 maybe ofincandescent or neon type as preferred by the manufacturer. Upon thefront side of the housing 13, there Aare a plurality of lenses 18Patented Sept. 15 1970 lCC through which light rays from the lamps 17may travel outwardly for being viewed by motorist or pedestrians.

Within the housing 13 each lamp 17 is provided with a timer 19 and aphoto-electric cell 20, each of which is connected by means ofIappropriate wiring 21 to an electric source of power 22, that may "beeither self-contained or connected to the wiring of the tratiic signal.As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, the housing 13 is providedwith a plurality of openings 23 upon its inner side Wall 24 which may bealigned with Ia plurality of openings 25 upon the shield 14 of thetraffic signal so as to permit light rays from the traic signal lamp 26passing through the traffic signal green lens 27 to enter the chamberlr6/of the housing 13 Where the light rays 2v8 may affect thephotoelectric cell 20.

The timer 19 is provided with a manually controlled selector knob 29which is pre-set so that each lamp v17 is differently timed from theother in sequence.

In operative use, the traffic circle amber light 10 is installed uponthe traffic signal green lens shield as shown. The wiring 22 from theunit is connected to an electrical source within the traffic signal.When the green lamp of the traffic signal is turned on, it will sendforth light rays 28 which will activ-ate all of the photoelectric cellsinstantly at the same time. Each of the photoelectric cells willaccordingly activate the respective timers. A first of the timers whichis adjusted to trip a self-contained switch first will cause the firstlamp 17 to be turned on thus indcating to the driver or pedestrianthrough the lens 18 that a portion of the duration of the green lighthas elapsed. In sequence, an adjacent lamp then becomes turned on aftera lapse of a pre-set Lamount of time. Thus in sequence all the lampsbecome turned on in spaced apart time until all the lights of the lamp17 are on, at which time the entire circle of lamps are glowing to causethe entire ring of lenses 18 to glow an ambered colored light to warnthe pedestrian or motorist that the time is up for the green light andthat the red light of the traii'ic signal is about to be switched on.

Thus there has been provided an improved trafic signal attachment whichwill permit safety on highways at their intersection.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, suchchanges may comprise features wherein the complete amber unit wouldremain in an on position for three or four seconds after the green lightis turned out and it may include also various preferred features whichwill fit within the present constructional design. Likewise the devicemay be used as a count-down arrangement.

I claim:

1. In a traiiic circle amber light, the combination of an attachmentaround a green lightl of a traic signal, said attachment being fittedaround the green light conventional shield, said attachment providing anamber signal means, said attachment including a plurality of lampstherewithin and a plurality of amber lenses, one of said lenses beingfor each of said lamps, wherein said attachment comprises a circularconfigurated housing having a central opening into which said trafficsignal green light shield may be fitted, said housing including acentral chamber of circular configuration therewithin, said lamps beinglocated within said chamber, means for activating said lamps, whereineach of said lamps is connected to an electrical source of power and atimer in series, said timer being activated by photoelectric cell,wherein said housing is provided on its inner wall with a plurality ofopenings, each of said openings being in alignment with one of saidlamps Within said housing chamber, each of said openings of said innerwall being in alignment with an opening in said shield of said trafficsignal, and each of said openings of said attachment in said inner wallbeing in alignment with one of said photoelectric cells.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said timersis pre-set to operate upon a diiferent time length than the other ofsaid timers whereby said lamps may be turned on in spaced apart sequenceuntil all said lamps are turned on by said traffic signal green light.

3. A trafc signal attachment, removably afxed to a standard trafc signaland adapted to be used in a surrounding relationship to one of thelenses of the standard traffic signal comprising a generally toroidalshaped housing having at least two compartments wherein each compartmenthas, operatively connected, a lens, a light source, a preset timer, apower source, and a photo responsive switch whereby upon actuation ofsaid switch said light is illuminated for a predetermined period oftime.

4. The attachment of claim 3 wherein said toroidal shaped housing isadapted to snap over the shield of a standard trafc signal, and whereinsaid photo responsive switches are located on the inner wall of saidtoroidal References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1940 Loungway 34a-437/1943 clark 340-43 THOMAS B. HABECKER, Primary Examiner C. M.MARMELSTEIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 340-74

